Fehoko switches to San Diego State

The brand-name powerhouses came calling, but Whitley Fehoko's decision yesterday was simple.

Fehoko, who orally committed to San Diego State, could make an immediate impact.

San Diego State wasn't high on Fehoko's list of choices before Chuck Long became the coach last month. Long, the former Iowa quarterback and Oklahoma offensive coordinator, surprised Fehoko with a home visit Sunday.

"I didn't realize how interested he was in me. That's when I knew how committed he was in recruiting me. He told me they really want me in the program," he said.

"They don't expect me to redshirt. I look forward to playing as a true freshman," said Fehoko, who plans to major in criminal justice.

The Aztec staff was ecstatic when Fehoko (6-foot-1, 290), who in the summer gave Utah a soft commit, gave them his decision yesterday morning.

"I could hear them yelling over the phone," he said. "Coach Long said I'm one of the best players he's seen since a lineman he saw at Oklahoma, that it took them just two plays of seeing me to decide they wanted me."

The Aztec coaches took turns staying in the islands for the past three weeks.

"They just didn't give up. They kept pushing and pushing, and I realized how much they cared about recruiting me," Fehoko said. "I'm really happy about it. They said it was a shock of a lifetime for them."

Overton commits to USU: Punahou defensive tackle Jonathan Overton, the Star-Bulletin defensive player of the year, has committed to Utah State.

Overton was a standout playmaker out of Punahou's 3-4 defensive alignment. Utah State and Hawaii were the only two teams to offer him a scholarship. USU was the one that offered him a chance to play right away.

"I kind of wanted to get away and experience something new," the 6-foot-3, 245-pound senior said. He visited Utah State over the weekend and UH the week before.

"UH was talking about grayshirting me," said Overton, who was wary about the prospect of an entire semester on his own.

Oklahoma lineman commits to Warriors

Jared Lene is coming all the way from Oklahoma to play football at the University of Hawaii.

But it will be a homecoming for the 6-foot-3 1/2, 235-pound lineman from Altus High School. He was born here, and his father lives on Oahu. So do cousins Amosa Amosa and Lene Amosa, former Campbell High and UH players.

Lene orally committed to UH yesterday and is expected to sign a letter of intent Wednesday.